Park Mercahndise. T-shirts and Stuff

Egads! Better get cracking. ;)

I was born in 1965, so I've been around a while. My family was actually making trips to Deer Park Funland in 73, long before they added corkscrew, back when you used to be able to feed the deer, they also had a small petting farm, and lots of pavillions where your family could have a picnic.

Admission was just $3.00, and a meal was only $1.50. Which was mainly just a hot dog, fries, and a soda. Though you could also get a hamburger meal for $2.50. But, we almost always brought our own picnic. It wasn't until after they built the corkscrew in 79, that everything changed.

Another of our favorite family parks, was deer forest in Coloma, MI I'm not sure if that park even exists anymore. But, it was pretty much the same as the early years of MA, where you fed the deer and rode the train through a story book land. But, they never upgraded that park. I think they added some modern playgrounds. But no rides.

Our other favorite was Dutch Village in Holland, and the fun houses that used to be connected to the wooden shoe factory. Unfortunately that whole area is overbuilt commercial land now, and even though Dutch Village is still in operation, It's no where near as nostalgic as it once was.

Windmill Island is much more interesting. I'm surprised that they would not invest in rides there. Would certainly bring in more people. But, they do have an interesting green house. And, the only place I have ever seen that has a life sized checker board on the ground. Not, and exciting place, but, if you love flowers and windmills it's ok. Plus an antique carousel.

Edit: I just did a search on line, and discovered that Deer Forest in Coloma is still in operation, and they do have a few kiddie rides. Aparently they also have a haunted house, but it doesn't say if the haunted house is open all season. Looks like free parking, with ride passes. But, nothing to get excited about. Aparently a lot more than deer there, animal wise.

I used to buy T-shirts when I was really starting to get into going to parks, but with rare exceptions, my souvenirs are park maps. I'm a little annoyed right now because there are some SFKK, SFNE, and SFMM maps I can't find that are the only ones I'm positive are missing from my collection. I have maps for those parks from other years, but still, it stinks knowing I can't find them.

I think my favorites are the 2004 Six Flags Astroworld and 2005 Geauga Lake Maps, seeing as both parks have closed.

Other than that, my souvenirs are the photos I've taken. I've got some poster-size prints I want to frame at some point.

Couple items (since I've been away): Sounds like Michigan's Adventure is the Muskegon equivalent of Valdosta, GA's Wild Adventures. Evolved from petting zoo-type places by gradually adding rides and attractions, got bought out by bigger fish after developing into actual amusement parks (both carnivalish to be sure, but with headlining wooden coasters and waterparks that were attractive to corporate suitors CF and HFEC, respectively).

Sure would like to get to MiA again sometime....

Finally, have to say that the t-shirt thing got a little out of hand (OK, it got way out of hand) - but now it's mostly maps, shotglasses due to their size, and pictures/postcards. Definitely try to spend a little more at the few mom-and-pop parks that are left...and hoping to catch a visit to Miracle Strip v2.0, aka Pier Park, sometime in the next year or two to ride Starliner v3.0 (or is it 4.0 now?).

In a follow up, I just came across two old park maps. One is Cedar point, and in great shape, has the Mill Race ride on it. I'm guessing the newest ride was Disaster Transport. Though there is no date on it. Also on the map is Camper Village. So I am guessing this could be 1990? As I think Mean streak was built in 1991, and it is not on the map.

The Kings Island map is from 1991. That was from my one and only trip to Kings Island. King Cobra is on the map as well as the doomed Flight Commander. I remember that Adventure Express was the new ride that year, but it is not on the park map. I remember being very excited to ride flight Commander, but when we arrived there was a note the ride was closed indefinately after a boy fell out of it and died. I was bummed, and very sad at the same time.I also have several Great America maps, and, I think I have one from Canadas Wonderland. I also have a guide book from La Ronde. Plus many on ride photos.

A woman fell to her death on Flight Commander. Funny enough, when I searched for this to verify, I found that you claimed the same thing (fourth reply).

Vater is Columbo!

I've been on that site longer than I've been on CB, and I never noticed our buddy there before.

I read halfway down that page and got an instant headache. Had to stop.

Sorry to jump into a stale thread but I can't resist the opportunity to brag about my oldest bit of park memorabilia:

My Iron Dragon T-shirt, black with puffy, fluorescent, wire-frame art!

I wore it to an 80s party a while back even though it's, uh, rather more than a bit too small for me these days.